Today is our 4th day in New York city. It’s about 1 degree outside and we’re ready to start the day. But before we head out, I want to share this set of pictures with you. It sums up the way I see New York*. A massive city filled with colour, lights and lots of little details…

Tomorrow, the 4th of March will be my 26th birthday. It will be my first birthday away from home. It’s so strange to think I’ll only start celebrating the day here in the US, and all my friends and family will already be half way through the day in South Africa.

You’ll probably recognize Derek and Julie from their engagement shoot a few weeks ago. The couple tied the knot over the past weekend. The ceremony was held at the Anglican church in Kenilworth, followed by a super elegant reception at the Vineyard Hotel in Newlands, Cape Town. Derek and Julie enjoyed every moment, while Jaco and Aleit from the Aleit Group made sure everything went according to plan.

While the guests were having some bubbly, a guy sketched some comical portraits of the guests. The reception area was a fresh combination of greens and white, with a dash of gold. Saturday was one of the hottest days of the year, but never the less it was one successful party!

Pamela emailed me some time ago with a few questions she had about photography. She and her husband, Ingram are photographers in Namibia, north of South Africa. A few weeks ago, she emailed me again, but this time with a different request… She wanted to book a couple shoot. She excitedly explained that she’s never been in Cape Town and that she and Ingram would be coming down for a holiday. She then told me that they do a couple shoot every year and this year they wanted me to do it. I was so surprised when I met Pamela, who spoke fluent Afrikaans. Quite impressive, as she is originally from Austria :)

Exactly in 7 days from now, iaan and I will be on our way to Cape Town International Airport! We will be heading out to the USA to attend the largest wedding & portrait photography conference in the world! Since I started my business, 4 years ago, I’ve dreamed of attending WPPI. This year will be their 30th anniversary and I just couldn’t let it go by without being there.

I love to know the stories behind my couples, where they come from, how they met and all the other interesting things :) When I met Lerina I asked her to tell me a bit more about her life and where she come from. She said: “EVERYWHERE!” Lerina’s dad is an ambassador, so their family have been living in different counties all over the world. One of Lerina’s favourite places she says was India. Kevin however has never visited India before and so that instantly became their honeymoon destination.

Danielle and her husband Estefan got married on the island of Bali a few months ago. But after returning they never expected to see such a sad face…Danielle’s sister’s little one was very upset that she never got to be a flower girl. After careful consideration, Danielle decided to get back into her dress, get all dolled up and take some more photos with her family and her flower girl here in Cape Town…what a cool idea :)

Giving is one thing I feel very strongly about. I know for a fact I have sooo much to be grateful for and giving back is one thing I can to to help other people. My friend Adii, Mr Rockstar himself, started the Rockstar Foundation a few months ago. This non-profit organization provides full academic bursaries to exceptionally bright young girls from impoverished and disadvantaged communities in Cape Town, South Africa.

A few weeks ago I met Julie & Derik in the parking lot of the famous Charlie’s Bakery in Cape Town. She smiled and greeted me like a old friend! She told me that it feels like she knows me so well. “I read your blog every day!…So I feels like I know exactly who you are.” Wow, that was so cool to hear. I really do see my blog as a extension of who I am.

Joy Joy Joy. Thats the one thing that comes to my mind when I think of Frances and Graham. Besides good lighting, there is nothing more exciting for me to shoot than happy people!

Frances and Graham tied the knot on Nooitgedacht Estate in Stellenbosch on the 16th of January 2010. The day was a feast of greens and whites and the reception’s decor had the feeling of a European courtyard. Above each table hanged a cluster of ivy and fairy lights, lighting up each table.